Spanish Stamps

Definitives of 1870-1874

For definitive Spanish stamps, this was a transitional period between the provisional government and the re-establishment of the Bourbon monarchy.

Regency

The leaders of the
Provisional Government that overthrew Queen Isabella II did not have
the intention of completely abolishing the monarchy. Their vision was of a constitutional monarchy with both a popularly elected parliament and a popularly elected monarch. Of course, this was never going to succeed!

Don Francisco Serrano y Dominguez, the First Duke of La Torre, Military Commander of Spain, also known as General Francisco Serrano (1810-1885), was the Prime Minister of the Provisional Military Government during 1868 and 1869, and he was the Regent of Spain from June 18, 1869 to September 27, 1870. His rule was impartial and he always respected the independence of the Spanish legislature (Cortes Generales).

The twelve new definitive Spanish stamps shown above were issued on January 1, 1870. Their designs feature the allegorical profile of España.

The first ten stamps shown in the image above are denominated in Milesimas and Escudos.

The last two stamps shown in the image above are denominated in Cuartos (Reales).

Their Scott Catalog attributes are as follows:

01 M. (1870 - Sc. #159) - Brown Lilac on buff.

02 M. (1870 - Sc. #161) - Black on pinkish, Black on buff.

04 M. (1870 - Sc. #163) - Bister Brown.

10 M. (1870 - Sc. #164) - Rose.

25 M. (1870 - Sc. #165) - Lilac, Gray Lilac.

50 M. (1870 - Sc. #166) - Ultramarine, Dull Blue.

100 M. (1870 - Sc. #167) - Red Brown, Claret, Orange Brown.

200 M. (1870 - Sc. #168) - Pale Brown.

400 M. (1870 - Sc. #169) - Green.

01 E. 600 M. (1870 - Sc. #170) - Dull Lilac.

02 E. (1870 - Sc. #171) - Blue.

12 C. (1870 - Sc. #172) - Red Brown.

19 C. (1870 - Sc. #173) - Yellow Green.

Kingdom (House of Savoy)

Prince Amadeo, Duke of Acosta(1845-1890) was born into the House of Savoy, as the second son of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. He was elected by the Spanish legislature on November 16, 1870 and sworn in, as King Amadeo I of Spain, on January 2, 1871.

His reign was troubled by growing republicanism in Spain, Carlist rebellions in Northern Spain, and the independence movement in Cuba. King Amadeo I abdicated the Spanish throne on February 11, 1873, after a reign of only two years, after which he returned to his home in Italy.

The fifteen new definitive Spanish stamps shown above were issued in 1872 and 1873. Most of the designs feature the portrait of King Amadeo I.

These Spanish stamps are denominated in Centimos and Pesetas.

Their Scott Catalog attributes are as follows:

1/4 C. (1872 - Sc. #174) -Ultramarine (image shows a block of four).

02 C. (1872 - Sc. #176) -Gray Lilac, Violet.

05 C. (1872 - Sc. #177) - Green.

05 C. (1873 - Sc. #178) - Rose.

06 C. (1872 - Sc. #179) - Blue.

10 C. (1872 - Sc. #180) - Brown Lilac.

10 C. (1873 - Sc. #181) - Ultramarine.

12 C. (1872 - Sc. #182) - Gray Lilac.

20 C. (1873 - Sc. #183) - Gray Violet.

25 C. (1872 - Sc. #184) - Brown.

40 C. (1872 - Sc. #185) - Pale Red Brown.

50 C. (1872 - Sc. #186) - Deep Green.

01 P. (1872 - Sc. #187) - Lilac.

04 P. (1872 - Sc. #188) - Red Brown.

10 P. (1872 - Sc. #189) - Deep Green.

First Republic

Following the abdication of King Amadeo I, the Spanish legislature declared the First Republic of Spain on February 11, 1873. The short-lived republic was characterized by political and social instability and by violence, and the republic collapsed at the end of December 1874.

The eleven new definitive Spanish stamps shown above were issued on July 1, 1873. Most of the designs feature an allegory of the seated figure ofEspaña, resting her arm on a shield and holding a spear and an olive branch.

These new stamps are also denominated in Centimos and Pesetas.

Their Scott Catalog attributes are as follows:

1/4 C. (1873 - Sc. #190) -Green (image shows a block of four).

02 C. (1873 - Sc. #191) -Orange.

05 C. (1873 - Sc. #192) - Claret.

10 C. (1873 - Sc. #193) - Green.

20 C. (1873 - Sc. #194) - Black.

25 C. (1873 - Sc. #195) - Deep Brown.

40 C. (1873 - Sc. #196) - Brown Violet.

50 C. (1873 - Sc. #197) - Ultramarine.

01 P. (1873 - Sc. #198) - Lilac.

04 P. (1873 - Sc. #199) - Red Brown.

10 P. (1873 - Sc. #200) - Violet Brown.

The eleven new definitive Spanish stamps shown above were issued between July 1, 1874 and October 1,1874. All but one of the designs feature an allegory of the seated figure ofJustice, holding a sword and the Scales of Justice. The design of the 10 C. denomination shown above, at the bottom, features the Coat of Arms of Spain.

Their Scott Catalog attributes are as follows:

02 C. (1874 - Sc. #201) -Yellow.

05 C. (1874 - Sc. #202) - Violet, Red Violet.

10 C. (1874 - Sc. #203) - Ultramarine.

20 C. (1874 - Sc. #204) - Dark Green.

25 C. (1874 - Sc. #205) - Red Brown, Lilac (error).

40 C. (1874 - Sc. #206) - Violet, Brown (error).

50 C. (1874 - Sc. #207) - Yellow.

01 P. (1874 - Sc. #208) - Yellow Green, Emerald.

04 P. (1874 - Sc. #209) - Rose, Carmine.

10 P. (1874 - Sc. #210) - Black.

10 C. (1874 - Sc. #211) - Red Brown, Brown.

On December 29, 1874, the Bourbon monarchy was restored, when the son of Queen Isabella II, Alfonso Francisco de Asís Fernando Pío Juan María de la Concepción Gregorio Pelayo(1857-1885) became King Alfonso XII of Spain.

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Communications

Stamps of 1854 to 1882that are canceled with parallel horizontal bars or lines are REMAINDERS. Though
these are the original stamps, these remainders are worth only a
fraction of the prices of the original stamps with contemporary postal
cancellations.